President Lai Ching-te speaks at the opening of the Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology and Industry (TASTI 2026) in Tainan on Monday. CNA photo Nov. 9, 2026
Taipei, Nov. 9 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Monday that Taiwan was working toward independently launching domestically manufactured satellites, highlighting increased government investment in space technology.
Speaking at the opening of the Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology and Industry (TASTI 2026) in Tainan, Lai said the government was supporting domestic satellite and rocket development while building the "necessary testing and launch facilities."
Lai said the government had approved a facility for rocket research, development, assembly and testing in Shalun, Tainan, and selected Jiupeng in Pingtung County as the site of a national rocket launch facility.
According to a timetable previously announced by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), the Shalun base is expected to begin operations in 2030, while the Jiupeng launch facility is expected to be completed and become operational in 2032.
"As these facilities are completed, we will make progress toward launching satellites independently," Lai said.
Taiwan currently relies on foreign launch service providers, such as SpaceX, to send its satellites into orbit. An existing launch site in Xuhai, Pingtung County, is used to launch sounding rockets for scientific research and technology testing rather than orbital satellite launches.
Lai also said that the government had increased funding for the third phase of its "National Space Technology Long-term Development Program" to NT$71 billion (US$2.16 billion) and extended its implementation through 2031.
The revision, approved by the Executive Yuan in October 2025, increased the original 10-year program's budget from NT$25.1 billion and extended its end date from 2028 to 2031.
"Investing in space is investing in our shared future," Lai said, adding that government investment should ultimately contribute to national security and people's well-being.
He said satellite data could help monitor environmental changes and support disaster relief efforts, while satellite communications could maintain essential connectivity when ground-based networks were damaged.
Meanwhile, National Science and Technology Council head Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said Taiwan would participate in NASA's efforts to return astronauts to the Moon, although he did not specify the nature of its involvement.
The U.S.-led Artemis program, officially named in 2019, aims to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, establish a long-term lunar base by 2030 and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.
In May, TASA said Taiwan had been invited for the first time to submit proposals addressing 32 technological gaps identified by NASA under the Artemis program.
Wu said the government would consult industry representatives and hold information sessions on Taiwan's potential role in the Artemis program, while helping local companies move beyond component manufacturing into technology development and system design.
The four-day TASTI 2026, co-hosted by TASA and the Tainan City government, has received more than 3,500 registrations, bringing together representatives of space agencies, research institutions and industry from 32 countries to discuss space technology and resilience.
This year's event, the third since TASTI was first held in 2023, also features more than 80 exhibitors, according to TASA.
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